diff --git a/processing/app/PdeBase.java b/processing/app/PdeBase.java
index 30c4fe68c..9edd4dc1f 100644
--- a/processing/app/PdeBase.java
+++ b/processing/app/PdeBase.java
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ public class PdeBase implements ActionListener {
       };
 
   Menu serialMenu;
+  MenuItem saveMenuItem;
+  MenuItem saveAsMenuItem;
+  MenuItem beautifyMenuItem;
+  CheckboxMenuItem externalEditorItem;
 
   static final String WINDOW_TITLE = "Proce55ing";
 
@@ -172,8 +176,12 @@ public class PdeBase implements ActionListener {
     sketchbookMenu = new Menu("Open");
     //rebuildSketchbookMenu(openMenu);
     menu.add(sketchbookMenu);
-    menu.add(new MenuItem("Save", new MenuShortcut('S')));
-    menu.add(new MenuItem("Save as...", new MenuShortcut('S', true)));
+    saveMenuItem = new MenuItem("Save", new MenuShortcut('S'));
+    saveAsMenuItem = new MenuItem("Save as...", new MenuShortcut('S', true));
+    menu.add(saveMenuItem);
+    menu.add(saveAsMenuItem);
+    //menu.add(new MenuItem("Save", new MenuShortcut('S')));
+    //menu.add(new MenuItem("Save as...", new MenuShortcut('S', true)));
     //menu.add(new MenuItem("Rename", new MenuShortcut('S', true)));
     //menu.add(new MenuItem("Duplicate", new MenuShortcut('D')));
     menu.add(new MenuItem("Export to Web", new MenuShortcut('E')));
@@ -228,16 +236,29 @@ public class PdeBase implements ActionListener {
       menu.addSeparator();
     }
 
-    item = new MenuItem("Beautify", new MenuShortcut('B'));
-    item.setEnabled(false);
-    menu.add(item);
-    menu.addActionListener(this);
+    beautifyMenuItem = new MenuItem("Beautify", new MenuShortcut('B'));
+    //item.setEnabled(false);
+    menu.add(beautifyMenuItem);
 
     //menu.addSeparator();
     serialMenu = new Menu("Serial Port");
     menu.add(serialMenu);
     buildSerialMenu();
 
+    externalEditorItem = new CheckboxMenuItem("Use External Editor");
+    externalEditorItem.addItemListener(new ItemListener() {
+      public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e) {
+	//System.out.println(e);
+	if (e.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED) {
+	  editor.setExternalEditor(true);
+	} else {
+	  editor.setExternalEditor(false);
+	}
+      }
+    });
+    menu.add(externalEditorItem);
+
+    menu.addActionListener(this);
     menubar.add(menu);  // add the sketch menu
 
     frame.setMenuBar(menubar);
@@ -627,6 +648,17 @@ public class PdeBase implements ActionListener {
     } else if (command.equals("Refresh")) {    
       //System.err.println("got refresh");
       rebuildSketchbookMenu(sketchbookMenu);      
+
+    } else if (command.equals("Beautify")) {
+      editor.doBeautify();
+
+      //} else if (command.equals("Use External Editor")) {
+      //boolean external = externalEditorItem.getState();
+      //external = !external;
+      //editor.setExternalEditor(external);
+
+      // disable save, save as menus
+      
     }
     //if (command.equals("Save QuickTime movie...")) {
     //  ((PdeEditor)environment).doRecord();
diff --git a/processing/app/PdeEditor.java b/processing/app/PdeEditor.java
index 7a997f857..9f9940d20 100644
--- a/processing/app/PdeEditor.java
+++ b/processing/app/PdeEditor.java
@@ -33,9 +33,10 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
   String openingPath; 
   String openingName;
 
-  static final int RUN  = 5; // for history
-  static final int SAVE = 6;
-  static final int AUTO = 7;
+  static final int RUN      = 5; // for history
+  static final int SAVE     = 6;
+  static final int AUTOSAVE = 7;
+  static final int BEAUTIFY = 8;
 
   PdeEditorButtons buttons;
   PdeEditorHeader header;
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
 #else
   JEditTextArea textarea;
 #endif
+  boolean externalEditor;
 
   // currently opened program
   String userName;   // user currently logged in
@@ -116,6 +118,10 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
     textarea.setFont(PdeBase.getFont("editor.program.font",
 				       new Font("Monospaced", 
 						Font.PLAIN, 12)));
+    textarea.setForeground(PdeBase.getColor("editor.program.fgcolor",
+					    Color.black));
+    textarea.setBackground(PdeBase.getColor("editor.program.bgcolor",
+					    Color.white));
     textarea.addMouseMotionListener(new MouseMotionAdapter() {
 	public void mouseMoved(MouseEvent e) {
 	  frame.setCursor(Frame.CROSSHAIR_CURSOR);
@@ -249,6 +255,9 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
 	skNew();
       }
 
+      boolean ee = new Boolean(skprops.getProperty("editor.external", "false")).booleanValue();
+      setExternalEditor(ee);
+
     } catch (Exception e) { 
       // this exception doesn't matter, it's just the normal course of things
       // the app reaches here when no sketch.properties file exists
@@ -261,7 +270,6 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
       // doesn't exist, not available, make my own
       skNew();
     }
-
     //rebuildSketchbookMenu(PdeBase.sketchbookMenu);
   }
 
@@ -269,10 +277,17 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
   // mode is RUN, SAVE or AUTO
   public void makeHistory(String program, int mode) {
     if (!base.recordingHistory) return;
-
+    //if (historyLast.equals(program) && !externalEditor) return;
     if (historyLast.equals(program)) return;
 
-    String modeStr = (mode == RUN) ? "run" : ((mode == SAVE) ? "save" : "autosave");
+    String modeStr = null;
+    switch (mode) {
+    case RUN: modeStr = "run"; break;
+    case SAVE: modeStr = "save"; break;
+    case AUTOSAVE: modeStr = "autosave"; break;
+    case BEAUTIFY: modeStr = "beautify"; break;
+    }
+    //String modeStr = (mode == RUN) ? "run" : ((mode == SAVE) ? "save" : "autosave");
 
     try {
       //PrintWriter historyWriter = new PrintWriter(new OutputStreamWriter(new GZIPOutputStream(new FileOutputStream(historyFile.getPath(), true))));
@@ -356,7 +371,7 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
       selection.substring(selection.indexOf("-") + 2);
 
     // make history for the current guy
-    makeHistory(textarea.getText(), AUTO);
+    makeHistory(textarea.getText(), AUTOSAVE);
     // mark editor text as having been edited
 
     try {
@@ -413,6 +428,13 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
     //System.out.println("RUNNING");
     buttons.run();
 
+    if (externalEditor) {
+      // history gets screwed by the open..
+      String historySaved = historyLast;
+      handleOpen(sketchName, sketchFile, sketchDir);
+      historyLast = historySaved;
+    }
+
     presenting = present;
 
     try {
@@ -1314,6 +1336,8 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
       skprops.put("sketch.directory", sketchDir.getCanonicalPath());
       skprops.put("user.name", userName);
 
+      skprops.put("editor.external", externalEditor ? "true" : "false");
+
       skprops.save(output, "auto-generated by pde, please don't touch");
 
     } catch (IOException e) {
@@ -1327,6 +1351,8 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
 
   public void doBeautify() {
     String prog = textarea.getText();
+    makeHistory(prog, BEAUTIFY);
+
     //if ((prog.charAt(0) == '#') || (prog.charAt(0) == ';')) {
     //message("Only DBN code can be made beautiful.");
     //buttons.clear();
@@ -1368,7 +1394,7 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
 	  gotBlankLine = true;
 	}
       } else {
-	System.out.println(level);
+	//System.out.println(level);
 	int idx = -1;
 	String myline = line.substring(0);
 	while (myline.lastIndexOf('}') != idx) {
@@ -1376,7 +1402,8 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
 	  myline = myline.substring(idx+1);
 	  level--;
 	}
-	for (int i = 0; i < level*2; i++) {
+	//for (int i = 0; i < level*2; i++) {
+	for (int i = 0; i < level; i++) {
 	  buffer.append(' ');
 	}
 	buffer.append(line);
@@ -1395,10 +1422,31 @@ public class PdeEditor extends Panel {
       }
     }
     textarea.setText(buffer.toString());
+    setSketchModified(true);
     buttons.clear();
   }
 
 
+  public void setExternalEditor(boolean external) {
+    this.externalEditor = external;
+    //System.out.println("setting ee to " + externalEditor);
+
+    textarea.setEditable(!external);
+    base.externalEditorItem.setState(external);
+    base.saveMenuItem.setEnabled(!external);
+    base.saveAsMenuItem.setEnabled(!external);
+    base.beautifyMenuItem.setEnabled(!external);
+
+    if (external) {
+      textarea.setBackground(PdeBase.getColor("editor.program.bgcolor.external", new Color(204, 204, 204)));
+
+    } else {
+      textarea.setBackground(PdeBase.getColor("editor.program.bgcolor",
+					      Color.white));
+    }
+  }
+
+
   /*
   public void terminate() {   // part of PdeEnvironment
     //runner.stop();
diff --git a/processing/app/PdeEditorListener.java b/processing/app/PdeEditorListener.java
index 86dc257dd..f864bda2d 100644
--- a/processing/app/PdeEditorListener.java
+++ b/processing/app/PdeEditorListener.java
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ public class PdeEditorListener extends KeyAdapter implements FocusListener {
 
 
   public void keyPressed(KeyEvent event) {
+    // don't do things if the textarea isn't editable
+    if (editor.externalEditor) return;
+
     // only works with TextArea, because it needs 'insert'
     //TextComponent tc = (TextComponent) event.getSource();
     tc = (TextArea) event.getSource();
diff --git a/processing/app/PdeEditorStatus.java b/processing/app/PdeEditorStatus.java
index 849baf0a8..76fd3e66a 100644
--- a/processing/app/PdeEditorStatus.java
+++ b/processing/app/PdeEditorStatus.java
@@ -218,7 +218,10 @@ public class PdeEditorStatus extends Panel
       editField = new TextField();
       editField.addActionListener(this);
       editField.addKeyListener(new KeyAdapter() {
+	  protected void noop() { }
+
 	  public void keyPressed(KeyEvent event) {
+	    //System.out.println("got event " + event + "  " + KeyEvent.VK_SPACE);
 	    int c = event.getKeyChar();
 	    int code = event.getKeyCode();
 	    
@@ -238,13 +241,17 @@ public class PdeEditorStatus extends Panel
 		       (code == KeyEvent.VK_HOME) || 
 		       (code == KeyEvent.VK_END) || 
 		       (code == KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT)) {
+	      //System.out.println("nothing to see here");
+	      noop();
 
 	    } else if (code == KeyEvent.VK_ESCAPE) {
 	      unedit();
 	      editor.buttons.clear();
 	      event.consume();
 
-	    } else if (c == ' ') {
+	      //} else if (c == ' ') {
+	    } else if (code == KeyEvent.VK_SPACE) {
+	      //System.out.println("got a space");
 	      // if a space, insert an underscore
 	      //editField.insert("_", editField.getCaretPosition());
 	      /* tried to play nice and see where it got me
@@ -264,15 +271,18 @@ public class PdeEditorStatus extends Panel
 	      int end = editField.getSelectionEnd();
 	      editField.setText(t.substring(0, start) + "_" +
 				t.substring(end));
+	      editField.setCaretPosition(start+1);
 	      event.consume();
 
 	    } else if (c == '_') {
+	      noop();
 		// everything fine
 
 	    } else if (((code >= 'A') && (code <= 'Z')) &&
 		       (((c >= 'A') && (c <= 'Z')) ||
 			((c >= 'a') && (c <= 'z')))) {
 		// everything fine, catches upper and lower
+	      noop();
 	      
 	    } else if ((c >= '0') && (c <= '9')) {
 	      if (editField.getCaretPosition() == 0) {
diff --git a/processing/build/shared/revisions.txt b/processing/build/shared/revisions.txt
index e599537e4..129671e57 100644
--- a/processing/build/shared/revisions.txt
+++ b/processing/build/shared/revisions.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,63 @@
+ABOUT REV 0044
+
+[ features ] 
+
+- can now use an external program to edit, such as bbedit on the pc or
+  emacs on unix. select 'use exteral editor' and the textarea will
+  become un-editable. you can then edit with your favorite text
+  editor, and the code will be updated in the window each time you hit
+  the 'run' button.
+
+- added ability to set foreground and background colors of the
+  editor. editor.program.fgcolor and editor.program.bgcolor can be set
+  to your favorite color in pde.properties. also the the background
+  color indicating 'external editor' is in use can be set via
+  editor.program.bgcolor.external.
+
+- more file i/o and data processing capabilities, see changes under
+  api additions
+
+- 'beautify' is now enabled, though it may eat all your code in the
+  process. if it does, just go back to the previous version by using
+  the history menu, and get to the proce55ing website and let us know
+  the change of events.
+
+[ api additions ]
+
+- String[] loadStrings(String filename) 
+  returns the lines of a file as entries in an array of strings
+
+- byte[] loadBytes(String filename) 
+  retrieves a file's contents and places them into a byte array for
+  easy processing
+
+- String[] splitStrings(String what) 
+  String[] splitStrings(String what, char splitChar) 
+  splits a String into several smaller strings wherever there's a
+  space. ie. splitStrings("quick brown fox") becomes an array with
+  elements "quick", "brown" and "fox". the 'splitChar' is optional,
+  you can have the line broken up by tabs (if you use '\t') or any
+  other character.
+
+- int[] splitInts(String what)
+  int[] splitInts(String what, char splitChar)
+  same as above, but parses the line as integers
+
+- float[] splitFloats(String what)
+  float[] splitFloats(String what, char splitChar)
+  you can imagine what this one does
+
+[ api changes ]
+
+- getStream is now loadStream
+
+[ bug fixes ]
+
+- names with underscores and other illegal characters weren't being
+  restrained. this allowed / and : to be used when renaming/saving
+  sketches, which caused the app to blow up.
+
+
 ABOUT REV 0043 - "ALPHA" - 2 august 2002
 
 - this is the official "alpha" release. released for all platforms
diff --git a/processing/todo.txt b/processing/todo.txt
index 060aa26b2..63dab3e26 100644
--- a/processing/todo.txt
+++ b/processing/todo.txt
@@ -1,10 +1,85 @@
 0044
 X added optimized flat circle (not ellipse) function
+X   then removed it again because it's not quite finished
+X   need to be able to fill using the same function
 X added additional file i/o functions to bagel
 X   loadStrings and splitInts, splitFloats, etc
 X getStream is now loadStream
+X set bg/fg color of text editing area
+X add option for running with external editor
+X   sets text area to not editable, changes color
+X   gets new text on each run.. calls handleOpen2 or whatever
+X   disables save.. save as ?
+X organizing directories, save to other directories blows up
+X   for now, disallow the / or : characters
+X   there was a bug that required a noop() b/c of jikes or 1.3 problems
+X is problem w/ beautify that it has no menu event handler?
+X   write event handler, and make sure it doesn't work for external ed
 
-language
+
+bagel
+_ need to finish fill mode of flat circle function
+_ 'image' is too generic a variable to have inside BApplet
+_   check for others that shouldn't be used
+
+pde
+_ don't popup offscreen if editor window is way left. 
+_   just make sure the x coord > 10 or so (if not presenting)
+_ don't throw exceptions for serial on startup if no serial available?
+_   gets upset on osx if rxtx not installed during menu building
+_ as approaches 1000 lines, editorconsole has arrayindexoutof bounds
+int a; 
+void loop()  
+{ 
+  a++; 
+  println(a); 
+} 
+_ locking up on run (under win2k? others?) 
+_   rare but present, every 100th time or so
+
+readme
+_ mention shift-run for present mode
+_ size() and background() need regular nums, no vars
+_ click sketch title to rename
+
+windows
+_ use self-extractor and make sure no 8.3 filenames
+_ windows 95/98/ME seems to be broken
+_   ME seems to be very broken
+
+macos
+_ console scroller obscured by window resizer intruding
+_ make sure space->underscore conversion working properly for 'save as'
+_   file names with a space get "_ " instead of a space ?
+
+macosx 
+_ include instructions for rxtx or the install itself
+_   just include the .pkg, since causing exceptions now
+_ use a .dmg to distribute 
+o viewer window shows up in odd places
+_ arrow keys broken (but with shift they work..)
+_ escape key not quitting presentation mode
+_ apple-a for select all tries to quit
+_ sketch window resizing strangely
+_   can make width/height larger, but only height smaller
+X   check apple site for technote/bug listing
+X     jes grabbed examples for me
+
+
+suggestions
+_ make versions available w/o fonts and jre
+_ lock feature for present mode (part of export to application?)
+_ error messages with link to what's wrong
+_ moving sketchbook folder for lab environments
+_ lots of ui ideas from adrien in the bboard
+_ can't copy text from console directly
+o   make note in readme about stderr.txt and stdout.txt
+
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+
+LANGUAGE
 
 foreach String line (lines)
 foreach (String line = lines)
@@ -31,74 +106,6 @@ emit(arrayImageX, arrayImageY)
 println("arrayImageX, arrayImageY = " + arrayImageX + ", " + arrayImageY)
 
 
-bagel
-_ 'image' is too generic a variable to have inside BApplet
-_   check for others that shouldn't be used
-
-suggestions
-_ lock feature for present mode (part of export to application?)
-_ error messages with link to what's wrong
-_ moving sketchbook folder for lab environments
-_ lots of ui ideas from adrien in the bboard
-
-pde
-_ locking up on run (under win2k? others?) 
-_   rare but present, every 100th time or so
-_ can't copy text from console directly
-_ file names with a space get "_ " instead of a space
-_ add option for running with external editor
-_   sets text area to not editable, changes color
-_   gets new text on each run.. calls handleOpen2 or whatever
-_   disables save.. save as ?
-_ set bg/fg color of text editing area
-_ don't popup offscreen if editor window is way left. 
-_   just make sure the x coord > 10 or so (if not presenting)
-_ don't throw exceptions for serial on startup if no serial available?
-_ as approaches 1000 lines, editorconsole has arrayindexoutof bounds
-int a; 
-void loop()  
-{ 
-  a++; 
-  println(a); 
-} 
-
-sketchbook
-_ organizing directories, save to other directories blows up
-_   for now, disallow the / or : characters
-
-readme
-_ mention shift-run for present mode
-_ size() and background() need regular nums, no vars
-_ click sketch title to rename
-
-release
-_ make versions available w/o fonts and jre
-
-windows
-_ use self-extractor and make sure no 8.3 filenames
-_ windows 95/98/ME seems to be broken
-_   ME seems to be very broken
-
-macos
-_ console scroller obscured by window resizer intruding
-
-macosx 
-_ include instructions for rxtx or the install itself
-_   just include the .pkg, since causing exceptions now
-_ use a .dmg to distribute 
-o viewer window shows up in odd places
-_ arrow keys broken (but with shift they work..)
-_ escape key not quitting presentation mode
-_ apple-a for select all tries to quit
-_ sketch window resizing strangely
-_   can make width/height larger, but only height smaller
-X   check apple site for technote/bug listing
-X     jes grabbed examples for me
-
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-
-
 BAGEL / high
 b _ better access to projX et al
 b _   what's a better name? calcX? or write to an array?